Almost 1,000 new electric buses are heading for London after the capital won the lion’s share of a £500m investment in green transport.
London already has the largest zero emission bus fleet in western Europe, with more than 1,500 buses on more than 70 routes powered by electric-charged batteries.
On Tuesday, Go-Ahead, the biggest bus operator in the capital, with more than a quarter of the market, announced a £500m order for 1,200 UK-made zero emission buses.
According to the Department for Transport and Go-Ahead, up to 167 of these buses will come to London this year, followed by an “anticipated” 400 next year and again in 2026. The new buses will be “predominantly in London”, the Standard was told.
Diesel buses are due to be removed from London by 2034 but Mayor Sadiq Khan wants to accelerate the switch to greener vehicles by four years, in line with his vision of London being a “net zero city” by the end of the decade.
While electric buses are more expensive to buy, they tend to be cheaper to run, due to electricity typically being cheaper than diesel.
But electric buses need more garage space because they take hours to charge – compared with a few minutes to refuel a diesel bus.
In London, more than 17 per cent of the bus fleet operates with zero-emission buses.
These include 20 hydrogen buses, more than 1,000 battery electric buses and “opportunity charged” electric buses, which are topped up via a pantograph multiple times during the day – such as the 132 bus at Bexleyheath garage.
Other routes that have recently been converted to electric vehicles include the 152, 276, 307 and 384.
However plans to operate a “tram-style” single decker on route 358, linking Orpington and Crystal Palace, continue to be delayed due to technological problems.
Claire Mann, TfL’s chief operating officer, said: “We welcome the news of Go-Ahead’s investment in manufacturing up to 1,200 new zero emission buses over the next three years. As well as benefitting the transition to cleaner buses across the country and delivering economic growth in the UK, this important investment will have a significant impact in the capital, where electrifying the bus fleet is central to reducing toxic air pollution.
“London has the largest zero emission bus fleet in western Europe, with almost 1,700 zero emission buses, and TfL is working hard to expand it even further. Electrifying the city’s bus fleet is central to the Mayor's mission for London to achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2030.”
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said 500 jobs would be supported by the Go-Ahead investment. It is creating a new dedicated manufacturing line in partnership with Northern Ireland-based bus manufacturer Wrightbus, which built the “Boris bus” New Routemaster.
The electric buses will also be distributed to Plymouth, Gloucestershire, East Yorkshire and the Isle of Wight.
Ms Haigh also announced plans to create a UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel. This panel will bring together industry experts and local leaders to explore ways to ensure the UK remains a leader in bus building.
She said: “The half a billion pounds Go Ahead is announcing today shows the confidence industry has in investing in the UK.
“This announcement will see communities across the country benefit from brand new, state of the art green buses - which will deliver cleaner air and better journeys.”
For every bus manufactured, 10 trees will be planted by Go-Ahead and Wrightbus in the towns and cities where the vehicles are deployed.
